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Ashes 2015

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It would be a brave selection panel to go in with only 4 bowlers. I would imagine an all rounder will be selected to manage the bowlers work loads.
They will go with an all rounder, but with Smith and Voges both able to send down a few handy overs (Smith risky but attacking, Voges more likely to hold an end up) without risking Clarke's fitness or resorting to Warner I don't think it is needed. There is enough cover and in conditions likely to seam and swing Australia needs six genuine batsmen.

I suspect Watson will play, and Australia should get the better of England with ten men plus a slip. If an all rounder has to be picked I would rather M Marsh, he's more likely to produce a reliable 30. Watson an unreliable 20 with one decent score to make the average look better than the real return. And Marsh is just as likely as Watson to tie and end up plus get the odd wicket.


It is the bowling that is hard to get right. And even harder to get categorically wrong.

Starc was possibly the pick of the bowlers in the West Indies, but the key point is "in the West Indies". How much can that form against a an opponent barely at Test level be trusted.
Johnson hasn't been the super-Mitch of two years ago but he ishas been reliable for a while now. While he might nit have hit his x-factor peak as often, his worst has generaly been fairly good. He is a different bowler now. The so-called x-factor (laughable reasoning at the time) can still be there - and he's not a liability when it isn't. His probable psychological hold over England gets him picked.
Harris, when fit, enough said.
So it comes down to Starc or Hazelwood. I would probably be conservative and go with Hazelwood. But if the decks are low, slow and soft Starc could keep that in-swinging yorker working for 40 overs so I don't have any issue with playing both Johnson and Starc. The selectors may also go with Starc meaning the side bats at a decent level down to number nine (not the way I would pick sides but definitely a consideration in the minds of selectors).
 
There is one bull they can't avoid

329684-130823-ryan-harris.jpg

Well player Sir, well played.
 
The attack will probably be without Starc unfortunately for him, first time he's consistently shown something in his career.
 
harris and lyon were both available for selection for the start of the last ashes in england and both were dumped for left field selections by marsh and boof, so you can disagree with what you want but it doesn't change what actually happened.

So who to believe - Ryan Harris himself or the bullshit you are trying to concoct?

Screen Shot 2015-06-21 at 3.43.37 am.png

Lyon was awful throughout that India series and the seven wicket haul on the wicket used in that last test isn't all that surprising. Believe it or not, but the Agar selection gave the squad a refreshing boost in that first test. Obviously there was the sensational 98, but he bowled well and had the umpires displayed any kind of competence when Broad ran him off the face of the bat to first slip we would have actually won and I daresay he'd have been MOTM. Couldn't back it up in his second test, but Lyon's position in the side was rightfully hardly secure - easy to look back with hindsight and say it was though.
 

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I reckon the top 5 are locked in barring injury:
Rogers
Warner
Smith
Clarke
Voges

Haddin will be the keeper. Beyond that it is very hard to select, I think. It will be very hard drop either of Starc or Hazlewood. You wouldn't think Johnson's spot could really be in doubt but he was the least well performed quick in the WI series. Harris would seem to be an automatic selection if he is right to go, but then he hasn't played competitive cricket since the India tests. Lyon is doing his job and the pitches for this series are unlikely to be the kind where you wouldn't play a front-line spinner. Having said that, if you just put team balance out of your mind and picked the 4 bowlers most likely to bowl the opposition out it would be the 3 incumbent quicks and Rhino for mine.

So I don't think it is nearly as cut and dried as some here seem to think. I would be ensuring that Starc plays the first Test. Even if it means we just pick 5 bowlers instead of stuffing around with Watson. I'd back Starc to make more runs than Watto anyway. Actually I think I'd back Starc, Johnson and Hazlewood all to be more useful with the bat than Watson. It's not as if Watto even bowls very much anymore either. It's like they pick him because having an all-rounder makes the team more balanced on paper even though he doesn't actually score runs or take wickets.

Edited to add: Faulkner is in the UK and performing. He made an FC ton and took a hat-trick. Could be some chance to be drafted into the squad.
 

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Rogers
Warner
Smith
Clarke (c)
Voges
Watson
Haddin
Johnson
Harris
Hazelwood
Lyon

Starc (12th man)

Haddin and Watson have two tests to score runs and Watson needs to be a genuine 10 over/day relief bowler. If we are behind going into the 3rd test with those two struggling they need to pull the trigger and get M. Marsh and Nevill into the side.

Starc will play at some stage in the series and I hope he kills it.
 
Rogers
Warner
Smith
Clarke (c)
Voges
Watson
Haddin
Johnson
Harris
Hazelwood
Lyon

Starc (12th man)

Haddin and Watson have two tests to score runs and Watson needs to be a genuine 10 over/day relief bowler. If we are behind going into the 3rd test with those two struggling they need to pull the trigger and get M. Marsh and Nevill into the side.

Starc will play at some stage in the series and I hope he kills it.

Starc is a talent but he just lacks consistency to build pressure if he cannot bowl enough miracle balls to take wickets. I think what I am trying to say is I don't think he can set a batsmen up over a period to work him out
 
Starc is a talent but he just lacks consistency to build pressure if he cannot bowl enough miracle balls to take wickets. I think what I am trying to say is I don't think he can set a batsmen up over a period to work him out

He certainly needs two consistent quicks around him. He could slot in with Harris/Hazelwood but not Harris/Johnson.

Still young though and an extended run (which he has never had) could see him improve rapidly.

Would be in every other test team in the world bar South Africa. Nice problem to have really.

Let's hope Pattinson can find a witch doctor to patch him up long term. Pattinson/Starc/Hazelwood will be a lethal combination.
 
Can't believe there is even a slight debate on Hazelwood v Starc. Hazelwood by miles.

Odd isn't it, we can talk (and I agree with you) re leaving out the best bowler in the WC and someone who did well in the West Indies yet its likely Watson will get a game.

No Swann so stuff all risk of them doctoring pitches for spin this time. Would love to see four quicks.

He certainly needs two consistent quicks around him. He could slot in with Harris/Hazelwood but not Harris/Johnson.

Agreed. Too much potential for too many loose balls.
 
Rogers
Warner
Smith
Clarke (c)
Voges
Watson
Haddin
Johnson
Harris
Hazelwood
Lyon

Starc (12th man)

Haddin and Watson have two tests to score runs and Watson needs to be a genuine 10 over/day relief bowler. If we are behind going into the 3rd test with those two struggling they need to pull the trigger and get M. Marsh and Nevill into the side.

Starc will play at some stage in the series and I hope he kills it.

In those circumstances, you can't expect much from Marsh or Nevill though. It would also mean that more than just Hadds and Watson are playing like rubbish.
 

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Explain why its obvious? Starc and Hazelwood have done nicely of late.

Well Hazelwood is averaging under 20 in Test cricket. He is a much tighter bowler, and he is bowling better than Starc with the red ball. Not to say Starc is no good, he is developing well but Hazelwood is already a Test quality bowler.
 
Personally i think we should go all out in the first test. Full aggression. With starc/Johnson/Harris. Then have Hazelwood up our sleeve if that doesnt work.

I think we should pick the best team available for the first Test and go with that. And again for the remaining tests.
 
I think we should pick the best team available for the first Test and go with that. And again for the remaining tests.

People on here wrote off Starc months ago and hes been close to our form bowler ever since. He's being written off again on here before the ashes so no doubt he'll do well again.
 
People on here wrote off Starc months ago and hes been close to our form bowler ever since. He's being written off again on here before the ashes so no doubt he'll do well again.

Sure he's been close, he's been second out of three quicks. You seem to have some gripe about Starc's treatment, I'm not really the person to argue that with. He was rubbish in Test cricket, and has improved a fair bit, good on him. He deserved to get slated after his performance in Brisbane though.

But Hazelwood is averaging under 20 and Starc averages 32, so it isn't a contest if you have to pick either/or.
 
Bird is playing County cricket with Hampshire, have no idea what Pattinson is up to.

I'll give you one guess about Patto...

Unfortunate as when he is fit he changes our attack for the better.
 

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